Halloween sensory tub with water beads for literacy

Make this Halloween sensory tub with waterbeads, or try my other sensory tub filler suggestions. Add in the pumpkin letter printable for great literacy-themed sensory play.

 

 

Halloween sensory tub with water beads for literacy

To make a Halloween sensory tub you will need a container. You’ll need something large enough to hold a variety of items, but shallow enough to allow your child to be able to reach inside and explore. A plastic storage box, cardboard box, washing up bowl, paddling pool, purpose-made sand and water table, or even the bath tub can all be good options.

 

 

 

Then select your base material. Materials that make good base materials include water, rice, pasta (both dried or cooked), sand, mud, oat flakes, shredded paper, grass clippings, and leaves.

The sensory tub in the photograph uses waterbeads, which are small pellets (often used in flower arranging) which expand when soaked in water. They are a fun, squishy, bouncy sensory material, but not suitable with younger children or any who may be tempted to place the material in their mouth.

 

 

You can get waterbeads online from Amazon. To prepare them for play, place them in your sensory tub and pour in water to cover them.

 

 

Very soon you’ll notice the waterbeads begin to swell.

 

 

The more water you add, and the longer you leave them in the water, will determine how large the water beads grow.

 

 

Finally, pop in some added extras. Try to include a rich variety of materials within the tub, so your child can explore using all their senses. You can add things with different textures, smells, shapes, colours and sizes. Anything goes, so long as the items are safe to handle, and you know your child will enjoy playing with them.

 

 

How to use a Halloween sensory tub

You can use sensory tubs for the pure delight of exploring the senses; as a way to calm or stimulate children; and also for maths, literacy, and imaginary play.

You might like to colour theme your Halloween tub, filling it with items that are orange, black, and green.

You could laminate the pumpkin alphabet and number cards from The Super Fun, Not Scary Halloween Unit and include them in your Halloween tub. Can you pick out the letters and spell words? Can you find the numbers one to ten in the tub, and line them up in order?

You might like to include wooden letter and number shapes, or small toys in your tub. Invite your child to close their eyes and feel for an item. Can they tell what letter, number, or item it is, only by feeling its shape?